Nike’s ‘Born to Beat the Odds’ towers over Mumbai with giant cricket icons

As the Men’s T20 Cricket World Championships arrive on home soil, Nike has launched a high-impact out-of-home campaign titled ‘Born to Beat the Odds’, turning Mumbai into a monumental tribute to Indian cricketing spirit. The campaign uses towering OOH cut-outs—an iconic Indian medium historically reserved for film stars and cultural legends—to spotlight both established cricketers and emerging young talent. 

Giant installations featuring leading athletes including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and Shafali Verma have begun appearing across landmark locations in the city. Designed as larger-than-life symbols of aspiration, the cut-outs position these players not just as sporting icons, but as reminders that greatness begins with self-belief—especially in a country where talent is abundant and competition is relentless. 

Expanding the narrative beyond elite sport, the campaign also brings upcoming grassroots talent into the spotlight. Young cricketers such as Zaina Ahmed Baig, Ishan Deshpande, Debark Maity, and Ramra Chaudhary feature as part of the visual storytelling—bridging the journey from gullies and maidans to global stadiums. The teaser phase is led by a striking near-40-foot installation of three-year-old cricket prodigy Debark Maity, whose viral rise has captured national attention, reinforcing the idea that belief begins early. 

The OOH rollout is supported by a wider content ecosystem, including a campaign film and an anthem piece titled “The Odds”, voiced by renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle. Social-first extensions will continue to drop through the tournament; each aligned with new Giant installations appearing across the city. 

By placing everyday and elite athletes on the same monumental canvas, Nike reframes outdoor media as more than visibility—it becomes a cultural mirror. Through scale, symbolism, and citywide presence, ‘Born to Beat the Odds’ transforms Mumbai’s public spaces into a living narrative of resilience, pressure, and the power of believing you belong among the greats.